eisagagete

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

However you may celebrate or observe it, Christmas is a busy
time. The presents, the preparation, and the people - all of these do
bring joy but also carry a degree of stress. In the midst of this time,
many families plan a break away, and juggling this planning along with
all the other obligations of the season can make time a very valuable
commodity indeed.

Some families may thus be tempted to cut time
out of preparing and researching the ways to cover their trip against
mishaps or illness. But it is important to put some time into thinking
about the best way to get cover.

Christmas is risky - don't avoid cover

The
first thought that should enter your mind is avoiding avoidance. If you
do not have regular cover and you are planning a small trip in the
midst of this manic time, it is tempting to avoid insuring your holiday
at all. But simply because you don't have time to imagine the potential
problems that could arise, even on a short trip, does not make them any
less real or likely. It is important to realise that if you have time to
book and plan a trip you should have time to plan your cover.

Make time to do your research

This
plan invariably involves a degree of research. Luckily, most quality
companies give you comprehensive information on their web pages and
through their call centres. In the middle of rushing around to do your
Christmas shopping or planning your Hanukkah festivities, it is useful
to set aside a few hours to compare different ways of insuring your
holiday. Consider the various providers and packages and ask them how
they can tailor cover to suit all the needs of your family and
particular trip.

Budget insurance amongst the presents

This
season can be a hit to your bank account. But this does not mean you
should look only at the cut-price options when insuring your holiday at
Christmas. While there are many fine providers who offer low rates on
services, it is essential that you choose the cover for you that suits
the needs of your family rather than simply picking the cheapest option.
The best way to do this is to actually budget for this cover when you
are budgeting for your presents and trip earlier in the year.

Look for short-trip family packages

These
days, you are spoiled for options when insuring your holiday. The
flexibility can be overwhelming and, since you will no doubt be pressed
for time during this period, it is useful to focus on short-trip family
packages that cover spouses and children for the specific duration of
your stay rather than individual or annual cover. This is especially
relevant if you don't plan to travel regularly over the course of the
year and if the cover offers useful bonuses and extras your family can
take advantage of.

Many of the unscrupulous companies attempt to lure prospective
customers with offers of astoundingly cheap travel insurance. While many
affordable packages are approved by independent bodies such as ABTA,
there are still regular reports from people who opt for the cheapest
deals, only to discover they aren't covered for certain eventualities.
Some leading experts claim some single trip travel insurance policies
aren't worth the paper they're written on. The trick is to buy from a
reputable company and always read the fine print.

Finding Policies that Meet Your Requirements

It
is worth pointing out that some basic packages may only cover short
holidays to relatively local destinations. They may be ideal for
travellers who are planning on spending a few days in the Scottish
Hebrides or the Channel Islands, however they won't be much good if
you're jetting off on holidays to far flung destinations in America or
Africa. If you're in any doubt about the suitability of a cheap policy
contact the company direct to clarify.

Ascertaining the Suitability Of Your Policy

The
vast majority of providers will include comprehensive medical cover
with even their cheapest policies. They will offer protection against
the costs of medical transportation and treatment, in most instances.
However, the insurers will expect you to declare any pre-existing
medical conditions prior to departure. If you fail to take this step
then you may discover that your single trip travel insurance policy is
invalidated. You should also remember the insurers who specialise in
budget deals may only be prepared to cover short breaks, as mentioned
above. They might also not pay out in the event of injuries that occur
as a consequence of participation in extreme activities. We'll say it
again: read the fine print.

Taking Account of Policy Exclusions

It
may not surprise you to hear that many single trip travel insurance
policies are generally very basic - and it is for this very reason they
are so cost efficient. There may be a number of exclusions and
stipulations. For instance, you may discover that your package doesn't
include cover against injuries that may happen while you're working
abroad; for many, this won't be an issue, but if you do plan on working,
you must be covered. The insurers may also be unwilling to cover those
travellers who are injured while using specific types of transportation
in foreign countries. If you want to be assured of complete peace of
mind it is always advisable to check for policy exclusions prior to your
holiday. It may even be worth paying a little extra for a comprehensive
single trip travel insurance package.

There are very specific and limited instances in which an
insurance company can deny coverage to a paying customer. Generally
speaking, when an insurance company offers a policy to a customer, it is
for a six-month period and covers anything which happens to the driver
during that time. If the customer has an at-fault accident, the company
must cover it, but may decide to drop the customer at the next renewal
period. However, the company is still liable to pay all damages
according to the policy for the accident which occurred during the
coverage period.

However, there are exceptions to this rule.
Generally, a company can refuse to pay a claim if it does not meet the
covered events under the policy. Common exceptions or exclusions to
policies include illegal actions and non-payment of premiums in a timely
manner.

Violating the Law

If you use your
car in a way which violates the law, you are often excluded from making
claims under your insurance policy. For example, if an insured person
allows his or her car to be used in the commission of a robbery (whether
the insured driver was actually driving or not) the insurance company
may claim an exclusion to the policy due to the fact that illegal acts
are not covered. Similarly, many companies have DUI exclusions, which
means that the company specifically puts in writing than any damages
caused by an accident in which their insured driver had a blood alcohol
content, or BAC, higher than the legal limit, are not covered.

Reckless and Careless Use of the Vehicle

Illegal
acts are not the only ones excluded by insurance companies. In many
cases, if it can be proven the insured driver of the vehicle
deliberately used the vehicle in a careless or dangerous way, coverage
may be excepted. For example, if a person allows someone to drive his or
her car who is known not to have a driver's license, the auto insurance
company may deny the claim based on this type of exclusion.

Failure to Pay Premiums

Non-payment
is another issue often raised when insurance companies are expected to
pay claims. If a person is behind on his or her premium payments,
coverage may be affected. However, most states allow a "grace period"
during which coverage is mandatory, even if the person is late paying
the premium. If the person is outside the grace period in payment,
however, coverage may be successfully denied.

Claims for Damages outside of your Policy Coverage

You
may also be denied a claim based on the type of coverage you have. For
example, if you drop your comprehensive coverage, the company will deny
any claims made by you which would have been covered under your
comprehensive policy. This includes theft, weather-related accidents, or
accidents which are caused by things other than a collision with
another car. Similarly, collision insurance coverage provides payment if
your car is damaged in an accident in which you are at fault. If you
drop your collision coverage, your company will not pay to have your
vehicle repaired if you cause an accident.

Other than these
general exceptions, there are few instances in which insurance companies
can legally deny a claim. In general, if insurance companies offer you a
policy and take your premium payment, they are legally obligated to pay
any claims which are covered under the policy, including payment to
other parties if you are at fault in the accident.

However, an
insurance company can certainly "fight" a claim by another party if it
feels that the other party was actually at fault in the accident. In
some states, liability insurance can be assessed on a percentage basis;
in other words, if both parties were at fault, a court can judge how
much of the fault rests with each party.